Male Depression

Male depression is a term used to describe any depressive disorder in men.

In other wards if a man is depressed one can say he is suffering from male depression.

This means that male depression is not a type of depression; instead it represents any type of depression that occurs in men.

What causes male depression?

Stress, trauma, genetic makeup, bad physical condition, serious illness, alcohol or drug abuse, low self-esteem and many other situations can all cause or contribute to depression.

The important thing to know is that usually there is more than one cause of depression. Also sometimes the causes of depression are evident and in some other cases they are hidden.
How to recognize male depression?

For recognizing male depression in others you need to know what the signs of male depression are. For being able to detect depression in yourself you need to know what the symptoms of male depression are.

One important thing to know is that even if you recognize the signs or symptoms of male depression you cannot self diagnose or diagnose someone else. Diagnosis can be done only by a professional. If you think you or your loved one suffers from depression you need to seek professional advice and help.

What are the signs of male depression?

Aggressive behavior

Excessive working

Alcohol or drug problems

Risk taking behavior

Impotency

Defensive all the time

Short "fuse"

Social withdrawal

What are the symptoms of male depression?

Hopelessness

Irritability

Shame

Blaming others

Always having a need to be in control

Intrusive thoughts

Thinking about suicide

Anger

Insomnia

Headache

Chronic pain

Coping With Male Depression:

Living with a depressed boyfriend or husband is very difficult and stressful. The problem is that people that are living with depressed individual usually don’t know how to appropriately give support to that person. In these situations love, good intentions and wanting to help is not enough.

If you are living with a depressed individual you need to learn about coping tools and what is the right way to give him support he needs very much.

This you can learn best in family therapy along with other types of education about male depression. The point is to educate, and prepare yourself as much as possible.

One important thing you need to know is that you cannot treat male depression but you can provide the support and love which can speedup the healing process. In other wards a depressive individual must be in psychotherapy and receive the appropriate treatment for his depressive disorder in order to get better and be cured.

Treatment for Male Depression:

Psychotherapy: There are many types of psychotherapy that are used in treating male depression and depression in general. Some of them are: Cognitive Therapy, Psychoanalytic Therapies, Behavioral Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Therapy etc.

In psychotherapy the depressed individual learns about his disorder and is treated for it. Psychotherapy lasts from four months to years or a lifetime, depending on the type and the severity of disorder. Sometimes along with psychotherapy antidepressants or natural supplements are used in treating male depression.

Antidepressants and natural supplements should always be taken under a professional supervision and in the exact way as prescribed because they can be harmful if they are consumed inappropriately.

Natural supplements are not harmless just because they are natural. Remember that most illegal drugs (e.g. cocaine) are natural and we all know how the devastating effect they have on human brain.

Many men suffer from male depression without knowing it. They are misdiagnosed many times. Consequences of their depressive behavior are sanctioned without ever giving them the right treatment. The result is that they are making other people victims (their wives or children) because they themselves are victims of male depression.